Blackthorne's Bride (8 page)

"But—"

And then he was gone, scrambling out the door and holding onto the side of the carriage. The door swung wildly, its hinges creaking, and the next bullet ripped right through the window, spraying Maddie with glass.

"Are you all right, Lady Madeleine?" Mr. Dover asked. At some point he'd released Ashley and was now moving toward her.

Maddie wanted to say no. She wanted to creep under her seat and hide for the rest of her—what was sure to be short—life. Instead, she gave Dover an encouraging nod, then watched as he crawled over her, reached for the door, and pulled it closed again.

That done, he extracted his pocket watch and tsked at what he saw.

Outside, she heard shouts and the thunder of hoofs but no more gunshots. She listened for Blackthorne's voice but couldn't make it out amidst the other noises. She thought she heard a thump on the roof of the carriage, and she looked up, expecting to see Blackthorne open the hatch and smile down at her.

But then the coach lurched violently and there was a horrible wrenching sound from underneath. Outside, the shouts grew more frantic as the carriage seemed to careen uncontrollably from this side to that.

Maddie held onto the seat, the floor, Ashley—whatever she could—but she was still thrown wildly about. The carriage went left then right, swaying like a drunk sailor on his first day in port.

Her head hit something hard and a sharp ringing overtook the noise outside.

Everything in the carriage flew around them, and Maddie saw her reticule flop onto the floor and then bounce out the open window.

Slack-jawed, she watched all the money she had tumble out of sight. With a groan, she closed her eyes and clutched her throbbing head.

Finally, the carriage slowed and, with another screech, came to a shuddering stop. Maddie slowly opened her eyes, wary of the sudden quiet.

Nothing moved or breathed for the space of five heartbeats, and then Ashley rolled over and their eyes met. "I feel horrible," she moaned.

"Are you hurt?" Maddie asked, surprised at how weak and breathless her own voice sounded.

Ashley opened her mouth to reply, but outside they heard, "Come out where we can see you! Make it slow, or I'll shoot."

Silence.

The cousins stared at one another. Where were Lord Nicholas and Lord Blackthorne?

The door was flung open, and Maddie jumped, then jumped again when it promptly fell off one hinge and hung at an awkward angle. It was almost dark outside now, and the man standing in the doorway was in shadow.

"All of you out. Hands up or I'll shoot you dead."

Maddie rose quickly, to do as she'd been told, but Dover held her back and whispered, "Let me go first."

He crawled out, hands in the air.

"Where are the rest of you?" another male voice asked.

"There are only two ladies inside," Dover said. "They are no threat. Let them be."

"Get them out here now, or I'll go in and bring them out," the first man said.

Ashley and Maddie exchanged a look, and then Maddie climbed out, hands in the air. Ashley followed, but she didn't put her hands up. Instead, she stood, braced her hands on her hips, and gave the men her most condescending look.

"What is the meaning of this?" she said haughtily.

Maddie looked at her in shock. There were two men on horseback and one standing beside his mount. He was at least fifteen stone, probably heavier, and his blunderbuss looked like an extension of his beefy arm. The other two men were armed likewise. All three looked angry enough to shoot.

But Ashley didn't look the least bit afraid. She grabbed Maddie's upraised arms and pulled them down. The three men were staring at them, so Ashley spoke again.

"Sir.
You,"
she said, pointing at the large man. "I asked what you think you're about. Chasing innocent women and shooting at unarmed travelers."

The man's eyes widened in shock, and he opened his mouth, then looked to his friends for assistance.

"Sir, I am speaking to you," Ashley demanded.

"So sorry, miss," the beefy man sputtered. "And miss." He nodded to Maddie, and she blinked at the newly contrite look on his face. Why, the big man actually looked sorry.

Of course, Ashley usually had that effect on men.

"That's Lady Madeleine, not
miss,"
Ashley corrected him. "You are in the presence of an earl's daughter, so behave accordingly."

Ashley would have said more, but Maddie reached over and pinched her. Next, Ashley would be telling everyone they were eloping. As it stood, these men would be able to help her father and his men immensely when he passed this way looking for her. Not only did they have her physical description, but they knew she was an earl's daughter as well.

Her father was definitely going to catch them. And then he'd kill Mr. Dover and probably Blackthorne as well—though she shouldn't feel quite so anguished about that—and then her father would drag her home and she'd never be allowed to leave the house again and ...

Oh, why had she ever decided eloping was a good idea?

"I'm sorry, my lady," the beefy man said, "but yourn coachman dishonored me daughter. I'm not leaving until he returns and makes an 'onest woman of her." He looked back at his friends, who shifted their weapons menacingly.

Maddie nodded regally. At least she hoped it looked regal. Her hair was loose and a lock of it fell in her eyes when she moved her head. But she had to remain calm if she was going to save everyone.

"I
was informed of my— er, coachman's mishap once we were en route. But I'm told this is simply a misunderstanding. We might have been able to resolve the dispute had you not begun shooting."

"An 'undred apologies, my lady," the big man said. "But it weren't no misunderstanding. Might we speak with your coachman now?"

"Certainly."

"Good. Where is 'e?"

Maddie had been afraid he was going to ask her that. She'd seen no sign of Lord Nicholas or Lord Blackthorne since she'd stepped outside. Slowly, she turned to look at the coach. The box was empty, but she couldn't see on top of the roof. Surely both brothers couldn't have hidden up there without being spotted.

But if they weren't on top of the carriage, they had to be—

The howl that came from underneath the carriage confirmed her theory and sent her stumbling back in fear. In a blur, Blackthorne rushed at the men. At least she'd thought he was rushing for them. Instead, he grabbed her, pulled her arms behind her back and dragged her toward the panting horses.

"Don't move," he shouted to the village men, who were staring at her, and to Dover, who was coming after them. Dover ignored the order.

Maddie didn't know whether to beg her fiance to rescue her or encourage him to escape now, before Blackthorne did something worse. Poor Mr. Dover. What had she gotten him into?

"Don't make me hurt her, Dover," Blackthorne growled as Maddie's fiance came closer. Blackthorne twisted her arms, and she squeaked in protest.

But Dover must have thought she was hurt because he slowed. Blackthorne called, "Another step, Professor, and I kill her."

* * * * *

Jack watched as the professor halted. Surprisingly, the man looked ready to attack. So Lady Madeleine's fiance had some passion in him after all.

By the look of him, the professor wasn't going to be put off for long, which meant Jack would have to act quickly.

He pulled Lady Madeleine farther back, into the shadows and behind a copse of trees. "Hurry up," he growled when she dragged her feet.

"I'm not going to help you kill me," she retorted.

Jack snorted and paused to survey their location. Satisfied that they couldn't be seen from the road, he said, "I'm not going to kill you. I don't even have a pistol."

"Mr. Dov—"

Jack slammed a hand over her mouth. The little chit was going to ruin everything. Holding his hand over her lips, he backed her up against a tree and peered into her eyes. "Bad idea, my lady."

She glared at him and mumbled something from under his fingers. He paused a moment, deciphering her muffled syllables.

"Actually, I do have a better idea."

Though at the moment he was having a hell of a time remembering it. He hadn't anticipated what it would be like to be so close to her. Her big blue eyes blinked up at him, and he noticed that her lashes were incredibly long and thick. She had that worried line between her eyebrows again, and he wanted to smooth it away.

But it was hard enough concentrating with his hand pressed innocently against her lips. His fingers grazed one soft, satiny cheek, and Jack knew he'd never touched skin so soft. He imagined her lips were equally soft. And warm. And if he moved his hand, and bent lower, he could ...

Jack cleared his throat. "I do have a plan."

And the plan did not involve seducing Lady Madeleine. He had to rescue five people. He didn't have time to fantasize about kissing the Earl of Castleigh's daughter and another man's fiancee.

"Lady Madeleine!" Dover called from beyond their cover of trees. Her eyes widened, and Jack swore.

"Listen," he told her in a low voice, "my brother is innocent."

"Mow, mo mou mow?"

"I know because the girl tried to corner me as well."

Her eyes widened. "Me mon't melieve mat." She gestured toward the men with the pistols.

"I know they won't believe it. No father wants to hear that his daughter isn't pure and innocent. And even if he does believe it, he'll kill us for insulting his daughter."

"Mo, mat—" She broke off and pulled at his hand.

Jack gave her a warning look. "No shouting."

She nodded, and he lifted his hand. But he didn't move back. He might not be touching her face, but he had her backside against the tree trunk, which meant the rest of her was pressed intimately against him.

She was petite and womanly, curved in all the right places. And he knew in his head that he shouldn't be enjoying feeling all those sweet curves press against him, but he couldn't get his body to agree. He was obviously a scoundrel, but as long as he had Lady Madeleine close, he didn't care.

"Now what are we going to do?" Madeleine's voice, low and tinged with impatience, pulled his thoughts once again to the situation at hand. "Where's Lord Nicholas?"

"That's another problem." Jack lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed it between two fingers. Jesus, but it was like silk. Was there any part of this woman that didn't arouse him? He glanced into her eyes. "Nicholas hit his head. I left him unconscious."

"Oh, Lord." She looked past him, back toward the carriage. "Where is he now?"

"On the far side of the carriage. Hopefully, he'll wake when I put my plan into action."

"Plan?"

"Right. You and I walk out of here, then you scream and distract the innkeeper. I'll disarm the fat one—"

"Are you mad?" she hissed. "That will never work."

"You have a better idea?"

"I'm not allowing some asinine scheme like that when Mr. Dover and Ashley are in the middle of harm's way."

Jack frowned. What? Did the woman think he hadn't thought of her friends? "That's where you come in. You grab Miss Brittany and—"

"No. No, no,
no."

She pushed him back, and Jack complied before he realized what he'd done. She started marching toward the carriage, but Jack grabbed her arm and hauled her back. "What the devil are you doing?"

She shook her arm out of his grasp and rounded on him. "I'm going to fix this."

He moved to block her path. She tried to go around him, but he checked her. "How?"

She glared at him, but he wasn't moving. Finally, she ground out, "By telling that man the truth."

"That his daughter is a trollop?"

"Yes."

"And you think
I'm
mad."

Her eyes grew dark with anger, and Jack actually considered stepping out of her way.

"Not only are you mad." She poked him in the chest, rising on tiptoe so her eyes were almost level with his. "You are the most reckless, most imprudent, most idiotic man I've ever met. Now, quit acting the fool, and get out of my way so I can take care of
your
mishap."

"Lady Madeleine!" Dover called again. "Are you all right? By my calculations, we are now one hour and three minutes behind schedule."

"Jiminy!" she muttered. "We have to keep moving." She turned toward the road. "Yes, I'm coming out!"

Jack scowled at her. Irritating, foolish woman. "So, you want to stroll out there and get yourself killed?"

He was washing his hands of this one. He was done saving people. Let the little chit have her way. And good riddance.

"Go right ahead." He made a show of stepping out of her way.

She raised her chin. "Good."

"Good."

With a nod, she marched past him.

"Just one more thing before you go, my lady."